Does hearing the best in high end audio make your opinions more valid?

calvinj, I think you have completely missed my point. I am not attacking anyone for having expensive systems. But simply having an expensive system or any system is not sufficient reason to draw conclusions regarding sound quality, which cables are the absolute best, how much people need to spend on their systems, what constitutes audio Nirvana or any of the other usual audiophile arguments. Or to claim that the opinion of folks with inexpensive systems don’t count.

I will not play your I’ll show you mine if you show me yours game for those reasons. It doesn’t prove anything. You can derive almost no information regarding sound quality from pictures of systems or lists of system components. There are myriad very expensive systems that sound horrible or at least very generic. A rich man has as much chance of obtaining audio Nirvana as a camel has of passing through the eye of a needle.

No....

(1) Without prejudice to anything below, the expression “best in audio” is usually interpreted singularly and thus uniquely (differently) by the beholder. Regardless of hobbyist or audio mag reviewer/reporter, it churns out a broad range compendium of a buzzilion conflicting anecdotal and heavily biased personal faves .

(2) Accordingly, there is no reference point for “best” in audio, and to search for that elusive term is a futile search for the Holy Grail, starting with the constant tension introduced by conflicting context:
(a) the “best” that the beholder has actually personally auditioned (a very limiting and distilled sample); versus
(b) the “best” in a particular price point strata

“Best” is a matter of opinion. I have listened to several 6 figure systems that IMO don’t  come close to equaling the satisfaction I get with my set up.
By non-audio enthusiast standards I have spent a fortune, but by “our” standards, its in the basic side. speakers retail for $15k, pre amp 4k, power amps 8k when they were new 11 years ago, cd/sacd player about 2k when new 14 years ago, TT is around 3k , etc.
My goal is to hear everything that is on the recording with the least amount of coloration, taking account that the room is a big ( if not the biggest) culprit of coloration.
On “greatest hits” albums, i can hear the different mics and production techniques of each song. I love to hear the difference as I enjoy the art.
 I’m so satisfied with my system,  I hope you find your version of “best” ASAP. 

Cheers!

A rich man has much more chance of obtaining anything than a poor man.


A rich camel has much greater chance of passing through the eye of a needle than a poor camel. It can buy a bigger needle.

Of course auditioning    great high end systems  is part of the research, but your enjoyment of the music should be the final arbiter.    Spend your time and money  going to listen to live music in the best acoustical venues you can find.  FOr me I judge everything against the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, Sullivan and Adlers acoustical masterpiece. Then take the money you have allocated to your system and get as close to replicating that sound in your listening room, as  you can.  Sometimes I think those of us in this hobby loose sight of why we have great stereos, it's the music not the $$ spent on the system.  It's what sounds great to you not to someone else. Take your entire environment into consideration, including room acoustics, your significant others taste, system synergy etc.  Most good manufacturers and shops will let you audition in your home, that is where you will know what the system will sound like.   Sure it will take time to get where you want but isn't the journey worth it.